Variable-pitch propeller



H. P. JENSEN-BERLUNDD.

' VARIABLE PITCH PROPELLER, APLIAUoN FILED 1AN`.31, 1919,

1,380,305. Patented May 31,1921.

lSSHIEETSWSHEET lA H. P. JENSEN-BERLUNDD. VARIABLE FITCH P R'OPELLER. APPu'cAnoN FILED JAN. 3x. 1919.

1,380,305.' Patented May31,'1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2. A:

GMM 01g l APPLICATION' FILED JAN; 3|, 19|9.

H. P. JE-NSEN-IBEARLUNDD.

VARIABLE FITCH PROPELLER.vv

Patented May 31, 1921.

MEETS-,SHEET 3.

PATENT OFFICE.

` g HANS P. JENSEN-BEL'UNDID, 0F LISBON, PORTUGAL.

VARIABLE-FITCH PROPELLER.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented May 31, 1921.

Application filed January 31, 1919. Serial No. 274,342.

To all .whom t may concern: l

Be it known that l, HANS l). JENSEN- BERLUNDD, a citizen of Denmark, residing at Lisbon, Portugal, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Variable- Pitch Propellers, of which the following is a specification., y The present invention comprehendsl generally improvements in propellers and more particularly relates to a variablev pitch propeller.

It is the primary aim and object of the invention to provide a propeller of the above mentioned character the construction of which is novel in form and designed to be used preferably in connection with flying machines though it is also well adapted for use on ships in the nature of a paddle wheel while the blades are automatically adjustable to insure `of an effective propelling action. v

As an additional and equally important object this invention contemplates the provision of a device ofthe above mentioned character designed in the form of a rotatable frame in which the blades are journaled for oscillatorymovement while acting in conjunction with the blades in the improved means for automatically adjusting the pitch of the blades in relation with and during the rotation of the frame.

As a further improvement, the present invention embraces the provision of a propeller of the above mentioned character wherein manually operable means is employed and designed to cooperate withthe pitch adjusting means of the blades for 1nsuring of an e'ective steering and stabilizing of the machine when in flight.

More particularly, this invention consists inthe provision of a propeller of the above mentioned character designedV so that the stream of air leaving the propeller is guided into the desired direction thereby insuring` of the raising kof the machinedirect from the ground and the landing of the machine Vin close places, at the same time obviating the usual wing construction of an aeroplane while the weight center of the machine is preferably placed under thevpropeller shaft to make the'machine self-stabilizing.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide a device of the above mentioned character whereinthe means for automatically adjusting the pitch of the blades or wings is so constructed that during onehalf revolution of the propeller, the wing planes will act without waste power on the atmosphere to insure an effective propelling y action, while during the other half revolution, the blades or wings will be positioned so as to produce a minimum resistance against the motion of the propeller.

The improvements in the details and ari rangement of parts will be apparent from' an inspection of the accompanying drawings, in connection with the specific description hereinafter contained, Vand wherein the preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed for the purpose of imparting a full understanding of the invention.

The invention is clearlyillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a top plan view of an aeroplane with two sets of. propellers attached thereto,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of another mai Fig. Gis an enlarged transverse sectional detail' through one of the blades or wings,

Fig. 7 is an enlarged side elevational detail partly in section of the means for automatically adjusting the pitch of the blades,

Fig. 8 is an elevational detail of one of the blades or wings and the means for mounting the same,

Fig. 9 is a detail of the steering means,

Fig.- 10 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational detail of the bearingfsupport for the blades or wings, and Fig. 1l is an enlarged longitudinal sectional detail of the propeller shaft or hub. f Similar characters of references are employed in all of the above described views,

vto indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now, more particularly, to the accompanying drawings, especially Figs. l and 2, there are provided two types of aeroplanes on which are mounted the imfA tversely of the body of the aeroplane while the rear propeller shafts are arranged longitudinally constituting carrying propellers for cooperating with the forward propelling propellers. Side and balancing rudders 2 and 3 respectively are associated with the tail end of the body shown in Fig. 1. rIhe body shown in Fig. 2 has the engine 4 posi- `tioned transversely thereof and desirably medially of the ends and in this form or type of machine, only one set or pair of propellers 1 are employed being positioned so that the shafts which are connected with the ends of the shaft ai'e arranged transversely or laterally of the opposite sides of the body while coacting therewith are the side rudders 5, it being unnecessary to employ balancing rudders, since this type of machine is self-stabilizing and owing to the peculiar construction of the propellers, as will hereinafter become apparent, it is unnecessary to employ the customary sustainingplanes as on the usual type of aeroplane.

In reducing the propellers 1 to practice, each may be said to consist of a rotatably mounted sectional shaft generally designated by the numeral 6, shown in detail in Fig. 11, the inner Sections 7 of which are adapted for connection with the ends of the shaft of the engine 4 being also journaled through a bearing bracket 8 in the side of the aeroplane body and connected vat its outer end with the outer sections 9 as by detachable fasteners 10. The respective ends of the outer sections are formed with flanges 11 which form the hubs of spaced wheels generally designated by the numeral 11. These wheels consist of inner rims 12 and outer rims 13, the inner rims being connect- Y ed to the flanges or hubs 11 by means of bracing spokes 14 while the rims 12 and 13 are maintained in'spaced surrounding relation with respect to each other through the instrumentality of radially disposed bearing supports generally designated by the numeral 15.

`In the present construction, preferably four of the bearing supports 15 are employed and each preferably consists of a radially disposed'stationary spoke 16 the rigidity-V of which is increased with respect to the rim by braces 17. Opposed to the spoke 16, is a detachable spoke 18 while mounted between the spokes 16 and 18 are a plurality, preferably three, radially arranged bearing blocks 19 removably fastened in properly adjusted positionsby suitable fasteners 20. The supports 15 in one wheel are arranged in opposed relation to the supports in the other wheel as are the bearing blocks 19 so that the latter may have journaled therein a journaling portion 21 of the rtransversely extending sectional shaft 22, said portions 21 being preferably positioned between and detachably connecting the intermediate section and the end sections of the shaft 22, the

construction being indicated in Fig. 8. Sectional Wings or blades 23 are carried by the intermediate and end sections of the shaft 22. Also, carried by the projecting portion of one of the journaling portions 21, is a worm gear 24 for a purpose that will presently appear. By this construction and arrangement of parts the blades or wings 23 of the propeller will be arranged radially of the supporting wheels while the intermediate section will be positioned between the wheels. and Vthe end sections of the said blades oi' wings will extend beyond the opposing faces of the wheels as shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

lith a view toward providing the im.-

proved means for automatically adjustingl the pitch of the blades or wings 23 in timed relation with and during the rotation of the shaft 6, a disk 25 is loosely disposed about the inner section. 7 of the shaft 6 being arranged eccentric thereof and provided in its outer face with an annular with, the disks 25 being stationary with respect thereto, vthe interengaging cam wheels 31 and groove 26 consequently insure the imparting of a rotary as well as a reciprocatory motion to each of the shafts 28 during the rotation of theshaft 6.- The outer ends of theshaft 28 are in turn formed with worms 33 which mesh with `the worm wheels 24 carried by the adjacent wing or blade shafts 22 to ultimately insure of an oscillation ofthe blades or wings 23 in timedv relation with the wheels 11. In connection with the foregoing', it is preferred that the eccentricity of the groove 26 be equal to one-eighth of the circumference of the gear wheels 24 while the pitch of the worms 33 should vbe proportioned so that the worm wheels 24 will make a half revolution for every revolution of the wheels 11', thereby simultaneously rotating and reciprocating the shaft 28 to consequently automatil -cally varythepitch'of the`blades'23 in timed y yrelation with and during thefrotation 'of the f Wheels? throughout the' `flying.l

As' intimated'fimprovedf gearing means ha'sbeenprvided foracting ln conjunction ge'ars'38y are carried bythe lower` ends-of `jtransversely extending shafts '40'v j o urnaled in thebody" of the'aeroplane. VIigldepeiide'nt "7 `control of 'one of the Vopposing propellers 1 is effected by a shaft 41 j ournalediri'supl V,porting-brackets 42 in the body `of the aeroj' plane 'and' carryingat'its inner end a bevel "'gear 43 which meshesv Withfa beveled gear `44 carried by the'adj acent shaft 40'. Ahand Wheel45 is mounted on the outer end offthe` shaft and positioned in L proximity to the driver 'for {rotating the` sha-ft 41 to' adjust Aso the dislr25 on'the4 adjacent propeller, the

lcorresponding motion being transmitted of x course by the' gears 35, 36, 38 and39, carried respectively bythe adjacent sleeve 34 and r'shafts 37 and l40, the arrangementbeing j lclearlyindicated in Fig,A 9. 'sleeve 45 is disposed about rthe shaft '41v serving to supy ,port a hand Wheel v46 'and' carrying at'its inner endfa bevel gear 47 Whichmeshes with another beveledgear48 on the oth'ershaft 40 Vso'that when the Wheel "46 is turned, the sleeve 45 vvill be rocked or moved independently of the shaft 41 to impart movement to the shaft 40 and thence to the disk 25. Ordinarily, it is only necessary for the driver to maintain his hands on the Wheel to prevent accidental movement of the disk 25 and in consequence accidental varying of the pitch of the blades. At times, however, it is necessary for the driver to adjust the disk 25 to consequently vary the pitch of the blades so that the machine Will assume the desired course, it being the principle of the propeller to maintain the blades 23 at such p-itch in the Wheels that during a one-half revolution of the Wheel 11 or the propeller proper the blades will act Without Waste of power to effectively engage the air for insuring a propelling action, While during the other half turn, the blades Will be at such a pitch that only a minimum resista-nce Will be occasioned against the revolving motion of the propeller, as is apparent. Y

1n the diagrammatic view, Fig. 5 of the drawings, there is shown a pair of the op posing blades 23 and the positions assumed Also', vby inovingf 'in its Vovvn longitudinal thereby, in dotted lines, .during'afhalfrevo- 'lotion ofthek Wheel 1.1".' The f positions are indicated-by the4 letters A,l BC, D,*E, F,'Gr, ,1f and 'Whenone ofthe blades 23 moves `ffromth'e' position A to E, the fshaft'28 which is mounted on thelvvheel '11 and has its cam Wheel 31 connecting with and guided by 'the groove `26is partially rotatedaonequarter turn'fcorrespondingly partially rotating the g'earvvheel 24 and the said blade.

direction' an extraone-quartery turn 'is imparted'tothe said Wheel 24 andithe'v said yblade 23', so that'the blade Will b e ultimately given acne-half-rotation. Novv therother' vblade 23` 'v'vill Ymove' from position E lto A, :being Vaffected' by the adjacentv shaft v28 A'so which has its cam Wheel3'1'farranged inthe i groove 26' and its Worm- -33' meshingV with changed,"as is apparent". k:'Itislto be under#- @stood that 4the opposed radial'series of blades lforV Wings "operatef correspondingly, "It is'v 'alsoto bev understood that 'by vadjusting the Wheels 45 46,`.the positions' of the blades Y or'vvings may be vvaried relative to lthe ro- .'tating'wheelll, as is apparent.

jIn operation, thedisk 25 beingfset as the shaft 6 carrying the Wheel 11 rotates, the

'jfs'hafts 28A Avvhicharei vslijdably and rotatably mounted fon 'the' vvhe'el '11" are given` such "movement 'bythe toothedcam Wheels '31 operating or meshing with and guided by the groove in the relatively stationary disk and having their Wormed portions 33 meshing With the Worm Wheels on the shafts 22 consequently insures the automatic varying of the pitch of they blades 23 on the said shafts 22 in .timed relation With and during the rotation of the said Wheel 11.

It is believed in View of the foregoing description that a further detailed description of the operation of the Vinvention is entirely unnecessary. Likewise, it is believed that the advantages of the invention will be readilyapparen Y As many changes could be made in the above construction and ymany apparently Widely different embodiments of this invention could be made Without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not ina limiting sense. It is also'to be understood that the language used Vin the following claims is intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein l -described andall statementsiof ythe scope of i -.Letters'Patent, is: l; In combination With the invention, which, las a matter of`lanlguage, mightjbe said to fall therebetween.

Havingthus fully described `my invention,

WhatI claim as new, and desire tol seciirejby a propeller, afroi Atatable -shaft,-a frame carriedbyandrotatr `ing with the shaft, oscillatin blades mounted. inV the frame,membersfsl1dably mounted 1 lonv the frame andv operably .connected .with

the adjacent blades for rocking the blades, means' on theshaftihaving eccentric connec- -tionuwith .each `of the members for sliding and .rotating the. membersto consequently v oscillate the blades to varythepitch thereof in timed relation, With and duringtherota- K itionl ofthe shaft.-v v. j 2.-.In combination Withi a: propeller, a rtatable shaft,fa frame carried by and rotating Withthe shaft, oscillatin blades mounted in the. frame, lmembers slidablymounted on the frame.andgoperablyconnectedwith the .adjacent blades for rocking theblades', f, means.; oir-the shaft having eccentric 'connecktion .With-,eachof the members for; sliding v and rotatingthellnfeinbers to2 consequently ".oscillate the blades to vary4 the .pitch thereof j in timedfrelationWithandduring the rotation of the shaft, and*n ianuallyf,o1 )erabl ly means inconnection With the last mentioned means forI adjusting'said'means,

3.v In combinationvvith a .prcpeller,vv .ro-

a'rranged' transversely of. 'the"ivheels and .theblades in ,timed relation With shafts' slidably.. 1 and ,rotatably mounted on /ne of the Wheels andoperably connectedito the adjacent Vblades, g means whereby vsaid shafts on vthe Wheel are reciprocated and ro-k tated by the disk forv varying `thepitch of and during lthe rotation ofthe frame, .l

1 f 4. In combination withv al. propeller, .a shaft, aframe carriedby the shaft, a plurality-ofoscillating bladesin the` frame, a

diskloose on the shaft, a plurality of Shafts Aslidably and rotatably connected -to the frame and operatively .connected to. the ad- Vjacent blades andalso operatively connected to and operated'by thediskduring the rota- .tionof thev frame 'touconsequently vary the Apitch of theblades, andmeanswhereby said shafts are reciprocatedand ,rotated bythe disk for preventing` movementfofthe ldisk yet at .the Sametime serving; as a meansl for yadjusting the disk when desired.

5. In cOmbin-atiOnWith a propeller, a roftat'abl'e shaft ',a frame-carried `by the shaft and including spaced vvheels,` a series of blades positioned- ,transversely of the Wheels and havingJ their .longitudinalaxesjournaled intbelwheels', a disk loose on ythe shaft :and having a; groove therein eccentric to the `shaft, fav .plurality of shaftsfslidably androtatablyconnected 'to yone of thef Wl 1eelsl and operativelyc'onnected attleir outer ends to the 4adjacent blades, 'gears on the innerends of theshaftsto insui'eof the rotation vand fslidingof'v the shafts to consequentlyvary the pitchiv ofthe blades during and in timed relation with the rotation'of the frame.V

`In testimonyvvhereof I affix my signature hereto.; V

HANS PM, JENSEN-BEARLUNDD. 

